By NOEL MURPHY
GEELONG should strike an auto industry deal with Jeep, utilising retrenched Ford staff and former manufacturing facilities, according to a sister city spokesman for US city Toledo.
Lindsay Smith, a Geelong-born former diplomat and Toledo’s mayoral nominee to an International Sister Cities body, told the Independent industry similarities between the Ohio city and Geelong could become a springboard for exports to Asia.
Both cities could benefit from Toledo perhaps helping Geelong secure a Jeep plant to replace Ford, he said.
“What immediately comes to mind is the skilled workforce in Geelong which, with the imminent closure of Ford, means that same workforce and the factory facilities could be tempting for Jeep, which has its production centred in Toledo,” Mr Smith told the Independent.
“It could be a great stepping-off point for the southeast Asia markets for Jeep/Chrysler.”
Mr Smith said Geelong and Toledo should forge a sister city relationship, citing port, airport, auto, educational and historical enterprises common to both cities.
Australian Pacific Travel’s chief since 2004, he has also worked with Australia’s consulate in New York and the Federal Government’s Australian Overseas Information Service. The former journalist was born and bred in Geelong.
His sister city idea has the support of Thomas Watson, former editor and vice-president of Toledo newspaper The Blade.
Mr Watson wrote in The Blade that formal ties with Geelong “would almost be worth it just to get a visit from Geelong’s mayor, Darryn Lyons, a true political character who thumbs his nose at convention”.
“He occasionally paints his hair in multiple colours. He went with a spiked blue-and-white mohawk for his campaign poster.
“He lines the walls of his bathroom, floor to ceiling, with photos from his career years ago as a paparazzi. I’m not making this up.
“More showman and promoter than politician, Mayor Lyons is all about enhancing Geelong’s economic footprint. Having lived abroad for many years, he is now Geelong’s number one cheerleader.”
Cr Lyons extended guarded support for the Toledo overtures, welcoming the idea but telling the Independent he could not commit to visiting the city without “guarantees (of) business ties and commitments”.
